Beating the Winter Blues with St. Tropez

Trying to beat the winter blues with a healthy glow can seem like a challenge. I’ve tried a number of self-tanners in the past but either the streakiness, uneven tone, or that awful smell turned me off right away. I heard a ton of buzz about St. Tropez and finally decided to splurge on it when I saw how great it worked for my roommate. This week I’m doing a little review on my experience using the product – tips for getting an even, lasting tan and what to expect.

I decided to go with the Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse which is an expedited formula. With this particular one you apply it then wait either 1 hour for a light glow, 2 hours for a golden bronze, or 3 hours for a dark tan, then shower and rinse it off with warm water. The formula is a mousse which makes it super easy to spread evenly – but I would definitely recommend buying the applicator mitt as well to ensure it’s applied smoothly.

To-do’s:

Exfoliate first! Before using St. Tropez (or any self-tanner) it’s important to shave and use a good shower scrub to get rid of any rough patches and dry skin.

Moisturize rough patches before applying. Elbows, knees, knuckles – any place the tanner can cling to should be nice and nourished before applying!

Check out the great video they have here on tips for applying for an even tan, and how to get the hard-to-reach areas on your back by turning your mitt over.

The pros:

Pleasant smell – I don’t mind it at all.

Super even colour – when you use the mitt the colour seems to apply flawlessly.

The colour is noticeable – most self-tanners are “gradual” which means unless you apply them religiously after each shower will you see much of a difference. After applying this brand I notice the change immediately and the colour continues to build 8 hours after.

With the Express Bronzing Mousse you get to control your colour by how long you leave it on.

No stains! After using it I didn’t have any marks on my clothes or white bed linens.

I love the face moisturizer! I’ve been using it in-between applications to keep the healthy glow. It hasn’t caused any dryness or breakouts, and usually I have trouble trying new products with my sensitive skin.

The cons:

The one downside I found with St. Tropez is that it is on the pricey end. It can seem like a lot of money ($44 at Shoppers or Sephora) to put forward on a beauty product, however I do believe it’s worth it. When you consider how much you can spend on using tanning beds – and how bad they are for you, I much rather invest in an alternative that won’t damage my skin.

All-in-all I would recommend it! Let me know your thoughts and experiences with St. Tropez!